Unit outcomes
Pupils who are secure will be able to:
- Identify electrical products and explain why they are useful.
- Help to make a working switch.
- Identify the features of a torch and how it works.
- Describe what makes a torch successful.
- Create suitable designs that fit the success criteria and their own design criteria.
- Create a functioning torch with a switch according to their design criteria.
Suggested prior learning
Electrical systems: Electric poster
Get started
Lesson plans
Lesson 1: Electrical products
Lesson 2: Evaluating torches
Lesson 3: Torch design
Lesson 4: Torch assembly
Key skills
- Designing a torch, giving
This content is for subscribers only. Join for access today.
Key knowledge
To know:
- Electrical conductors are
This content is for subscribers only. Join for access today.
Key vocabulary
battery
bulb
This content is for subscribers only. Join for access today.
Equipment list
Equipment needed across all lessons in this unit.
This list does not include equipment which is usually readily available in the classroom (e.g pencils, A4 paper etc)
Download
Full equipment list for the subject
Quantities marked × will update. Items without quantities are unaffected
- Electrical circuit component sets: batteries, battery holders, wires, bulb, buzzer and motor ×8
- Cardboard
- A selection of Split pins
- A selection of Paper clips
- Recycled materials to make the body of the torch, such as: plastic bottles, packaging, cardboard etc. ×30
- Foil ×30
- Scissors right- and left-handed options recommended. ×30
This content is for subscribers only. Join for access today.
Related content
Unit resources
Knowledge organiser: DT – Y4 Torches
Aimed at pupils, a single page which gives key facts and definitions from the unit. Year 4 Electrical systems: Torches…
Vocabulary display – D&T Y4: Electrical systems: Torches
A display version of the vocabulary from the unit 'Torches'.
Subject resources
This content is for subscribers only. Join for access today.
Cross-curricular opportunities
Science
‘Pupils should be taught to:
- identify common appliances that run on electricity
- construct a simple series electrical circuit, identifying and naming its basic parts, including cells, wires, bulbs, switches and buzzers
- identify whether or not a lamp will light in a simple series circuit, based on whether or not the lamp is part of a complete loop with a battery
- recognise that a switch opens and closes a circuit and associate this with whether or not a lamp lights in a simple series circuit
- recognise some common conductors and insulators, and associate metals with being good conductors.’
Pupils apply their knowledge of circuits and key components to design and construct a KS2 torch.
Build on the learning
Electrical systems: Wobble bots
Pupils build on their prior knowledge of circuits and components to construct a motorised Doodler, applying their understanding of KS2 electrical systems to improve its performance
